Bai Ye was quieter than usual for the rest of the day. He didn't say more about the mysterious power behind Twin Stars, and I was left with more questions than answers, but the pensive look in his eyes told me not to pry further. I willed my curiosity and anxiousness into silence—there was always tomorrow.
Despite his reassurance that the swords wouldn't cause me harm, I was still feeling somewhat hesitant to use them, so I practiced with my old sword in the afternoon and avoided using my spiritual power, focusing entirely on forms and footwork. I might have continued doing it for a while if Xie Lun didn't visit me the next day.
When he showed up at the gate, I was more than surprised. I was still under confinement, and although that didn't forbid others to come to our hall and visit me, most people wouldn't risk the potential trouble by trying it. My first thought was that the poison from earlier was still bothering him. But at a closer look, he seemed healthy and energetic as usual.
"Is everything alright, Senior Xie?" I asked after exchanging a polite greeting. Xie Lun had an air to him that made it difficult for me to act too familiar, and I felt a little less at ease without Qi Lian by his side.
"Yes. I came to thank you for your help the other day," he smiled. "To be honest, I didn't expect it at all when Zhong Yilan came to apologize. For someone like her, kneeling to admit her fault and beg for forgiveness probably meant more than any other punishment. Qi Lian also had a good time letting out all his steam."
I found myself chuckling as I imagined the scene. "I'm glad it all worked out in the end," I said, "and I hope such a turn of events won't deter your other admirers. That would be an unfortunate damage to your reputation that I never meant to cause."
He laughed. "Actually, I would appreciate the peace if that were the case." He didn't linger on the subject. "Would you mind if I come in? Qi Lian told me you came that day to spar with me in preparation for the tournament. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to do it then, and I hope it's not too late now."
I almost accepted the offer eagerly before I remembered my situation. I smiled sheepishly. "I would love to, Senior Xie … But I was ordered to spend my time inside on repentance, and I don't think sparring for challenges would be considered—"
"Let him in." Bai Ye's voice came from behind me and cut me off.
I turned to look back, not realizing that he had been sitting at the tea table this entire time, leisurely sipping from his cup.
"Master Bai Ye," Xie Lun stepped forward and bowed formally. "It is an honor to meet you again. My master sends you his greetings."
Bai Ye nodded a simple acknowledgment. "I've heard of your recent ailment. I see that you have recovered quite well."
Bai Ye's voice was cool and clear, showing the perfect amount of thoughtfulness and care, but distant, in the same way that I had always heard him speak to the Gatekeeper and other masters. The endearing warmth in that beautiful voice was always meant only for me.
Xie Lun bowed again. "I have, and that is why I came today to thank Yun Qing-er for her help."
Bai Ye laid down his teacup on the table. "Did the effect of jimsonweed last this long?" he asked casually. "For small doses like yours, the strength would usually fade by the end of the third day."
Xie Lun straightened and looked Bai Ye in the eye—a somewhat defiant gesture for a disciple. They seemed to be exchanging something in that gaze. "I suppose I wasn't so lucky," Xie Lun said. "It has been a difficult week, and I came as soon as I could."
I glanced at Bai Ye in puzzlement, not understanding what just happened silently between them. But Bai Ye simply nodded again and turned to me, "It would be rude to turn away guests like this, Yun Qing-er. I will make an exception for you to accept Xie Lun's sparring request. Under my watch."
"Yes, Master." I bowed. I wasn't sure why he wanted to watch, but that didn't bother me. Xie Lun and I moved into position in the center of the garden, hands on our swords.
"I will hold back on advanced techniques," Xie Lun said. A fair offer considering our gap in experience. "You first." He drew his sword.
I moved. Twin Stars still felt a little strange in my hands, but I had been focusing almost exclusively on twin sword techniques recently, and it wouldn't be wise to switch right before the tournament. I pushed my spiritual power through the blades, relieved that the crimson light didn't appear again, and slashed forward.
Xie Lun blocked with a bare movement of his sword. Our blades clicked, and I swirled around, using the momentum to strike again from the other side. He turned, a tiny step with one foot, and his sword met mine before I was halfway through the cut.
His movements were incredibly swift and precise, I noted to myself as our blades kept clashing. Wide open attacks and defenses wouldn't work against opponents like him. So I held Twin Stars close, crossing them in front of me and leaped, hoping to find an opening from above.
Pale purple light glowed when I swung the sword downward. But just as I closed in on Xie Lun's line of defense, the white gleam from his power flared bright in front of me, with such a strong force that my sleeves fluttered in the wave of air rushing under his push. Our swords met, and the pulse of energy shocked the hilts out of my hands. The cold steel of Xie Lun's blade was pressed over my shoulder before I knew it.
"Looks like I won," he said.. I didn't realize until then that his face was right up against mine.
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